Biography

Mieneke van der Velden studied with Wieland Kuijken in The Hague and completed her studies in 1988 with the Performer’s Diploma. One of northern Europe's leading players, she has been invited to play at various festivals in the Netherlands and across Europe, in a wide range of chamber-music ensembles as well as a soloist in renowned ensembles such as the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Ton Koopman), Concerto Vocale (René Jacobs), Collegium Vocale (Philippe Herreweghe), Les Talens Lyriques (Christophe Rousset) Netherlands Bach Society (Jos van Veldhoven), and Cantus Cölln (Konrad Junghänel).

She plays music ranging from the French viola da gamba repertoire, and 17th century English music, to Bach's obbligato solo arias and Cello-suites.

Mieneke van der Velden has recorded three discs with the Dutch label Channel Classics and five for Ramée, including with her ensemble L'Armonia Sonora, all of which have been enthusiastically received. She currently teaches viola da gamba at the Amsterdam Sweelinck Conservatory and at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where she has instituted a consort-tradition, together with the recorder- , lute- and singing-departments.

She has recorded three CDs for the Dutch label “Channel Classics”, to an outstandingly positive critical reception.

For RAMÉE she recorded De Profundis Clamavi with her ensemble ‘L’Armonia Sonora’ and Peter Kooij, bass, which received awards from Diapason and the BBC. In 2008 L'Armonia Sonora released a CD of Bach Sonatas for viola da gamba in different settings, also for RAMEE. This CD was also awarded a Diapason *****.

A recording of German dialogue cantatas Harmoniae Sacrae with Peter Kooij and Hana Blazíkovà, soprano, has been released in january 2010. Also in preparation is a Rosenmüller program with Hana Blazìkovà, Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij, and Concerto Palatino and a solo CD Hommages with Glen Wilson, harpsichord.

Mieneke van der Velden is a full professor of viola da gamba on the faculty of the Amsterdam Sweelinck Conservatory and since 2009 also on the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. She plays two original French instruments, a bass viol made in 1617 by Antoine Despont, Paris, and a pardessus de viole made by Ludovic Guersan, Paris, 1768.